"Snacks are a vital part of your lunch pack, they are your weapons that leap you over the hurdles of temptation"

Don't assume that snacks aren't that important just because they aren't part of your main meals. In fact, they're essential for getting you through the times when you're most likely to reach for foods that aren't great for your fitness goals. Not only that, they help with keeping your metabolism up and hunger in check. 

Keep reading to find out all about planning your snacks and what are the ideal choices for achieving the finest you.

Why Planning and Preparation is Key

Planning what you're going to snack on is essential for your sports nutrition success. If you leave yourself to decide on what to eat at the moment, you're probably not going to make the best decisions. When you're hungry, your belly starts to do the thinking for you. Plus, you might just reach for whatever is close by and it may not always be the best choice.

That's why you need to prepare your snacks at the same time when you're planning for your lunch and dinner the night before. At that time, you're already full from dinner and will be able to make the best judgments. 

Also, planning for when you're going to eat is just as important! Too early and you'll get too hungry before the next meal. Too late and you can't fill up on the more important main meal. The ideal snack timing is mid-morning (9-10 am) and mid-afternoon (2:30-3:30 pm), depending on your schedule. Or, 2-3 hours between main meals. 

Why High-Protein Snacks are Your Best Choice 

Next, you want to think about what you're going to eat. If your goal is to build muscle and burn fats, you need to choose high-protein, low-carbohydrate snacks. This is because proteins do 2 things: 

Firstly, proteins are the building blocks of muscles. So adding it to all meals (including snacks) will help you achieve your goal of adding on lean muscle a lot faster. 

Secondly, protein is the best fat-burning nutrient out there. It takes 25% more energy to process protein compared to carbohydrates. So you're actually helping to burn fat just by eating protein. 

Examples of Perfect High-Protein, Fat-Burning Snacks

Protein Bars

If you want a quick, easy, protein-rich snack, then protein bars are the way to go. They're easily accessible too as you can find them at the supermarket or fitness stores. 

Just beware that not all protein bars have the same nutritional value! So start getting familiar with how to read the nutritional information at the back of the packaging. Here are some tips for selecting the best ones: 

• Make sure they contain whey protein isolate or whey protein concentrate
• Check that there's NO soy protein
• Ensure that it has the following nutritional content:
• High protein (15g or more per bar)
• Low fat (5-6g or less per bar)
• Low in carbohydrate (10g or less per bar)

Other Smart Snacks

If you want to change things up a little, here are some tasty snacks that are also easy to prepare:

• 2-4 plain rice crackers with 2 tablespoons of nut butter
• 100-200g of sliced deli chicken or turkey on lettuce
• A handful of grapes on a small handful of nuts
• A can of tuna or chicken on 2-3 plain rice crackers
• 2 tablespoons of nut butter with 3-6 celery sticks

Boost Your Snacktime With HP100 Finest Protein Powder

When you want the best protein boost, you can even pair your usual snacks with Live Lean PRO's HP100 finest protein powder. Get creative! You can add a scoop of powder to your usual yogurt or drink it as a shake with a small handful of walnuts. 

You won't find any other natural protein powder with the same superior formula as HP100. Its special nano technology makes it 4 times more absorbable than other leading brands in the market. With more protein reaching your muscles, you'll see faster and better weight loss or muscle building results. 

Remember, every food choice you make can either bring you further or closer to the finest you. This includes the small snacks that you eat every day. Choose tasty high-protein snacks that help you to leap temptation and support your fitness goals.